If someone dies in Portugal
An EU country; the process is broadly similar to Spain and other EU states.
Reporting the death
Hospital or local authorities; the death is registered at the Conservatória do Registo Civil, usually via a funeral home (agência funerária).
The local death certificate
Portuguese death certificate (assento/certidão de óbito). Ask for the EU multilingual standard form to reduce translation needs within the EU.
Bringing them home
Arranged through a funeral home with a repatriation service; movement within the EU is relatively straightforward.
A local funeral
Burial and cremation are both available.
The embassy or consulate
Contact the deceased’s consulate for repatriation help and recording the death back home.
True almost anywhere
- Check the travel/health insurance first — repatriation is expensive and is often covered.
- The death is registered where it happens; the local authority issues the death certificate.
- To use that certificate back home you usually need an official translation and an apostille/legalisation.
- The embassy or consulate can advise and liaise, but cannot pay funeral or repatriation costs.
- You generally choose between repatriating the body or ashes home, or a local burial/cremation.